Empowerment Assembly

How can we empower students?

This post offers an assembly resource linked to the empowerment.

Knowledge is Power!

In the assembly, students are asked to explore the meaning of empowerment. Definitions and school expectations are offered, as well as strategies for students to become in control of their own destiny; to become empowered!

Empowerment is defined as ‘authority or power given to someone to do something and … the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.’

We know literacy can open doors. So, why do only 40% of England’s ten-year olds, have a positive attitude to reading? And  just 46% of 16 to 24 year olds don’t read for pleasure? Research suggests that students who read for pleasure do better at school.

• There is overwhelming evidence that literacy has a significant relationship to people’s life chances.
• A person with low literacy is more likely to have reduced work-opportunities.
• Parents / teachers are the most important reading role models for children and young people.
• Only 1 in 5 parents easily find the opportunity to read to their children.
• 10 to 16 years-old who read for pleasure do better at school.
• Source: The Reading Agency.

I Can’t Read!

This video is to shown at the start of the assembly; performed by Lamont Carey (Def Jam Poetry).

Empowerment Through Reading:

Reading books is the only out-of-school activity for 16-year-olds demonstrably linked to securing managerial or professional jobs. Analysis shows that 12% of all 16- to 24-years-old in England are not in Education, employment or training and 70% of pupils permanently excluded from school have difficulties in basic literacy skills.

In the assembly, one story is shared: The Man Who Touched The Sky renewed Ross McGill‘s love of reading and empowered him to live and work better than ever before. The story of Joseph William Kittinger II (born 1928) is a retired USAF Command Pilot who took part in Project Excelsior in 1960, setting a world record for the highest skydive from a height greater than 31 kilometres (19 miles)

Throughout the assembly, the following is discussed and is 25 minutes in length:

• Slides 1 – 5:  Introduction to Empowerment; Dr. Seuss.
• Slides 6 – 10: According to research … plus Lamont Carey video.
• Slides 11 – 15: Facts about reading.
• Slides 16 – 20: Non-verbal literacy.
• Slides 21 – 25: Semiotics – the science of signs.
• Slides 26 – 30: Reading throughout childhood.
• Slides 31 – 35: Reading at school; the Gruffalo.
• Slides 36 – 40: Reading as an adult.
• Slides 41 – 45: Writing improves literacy.
• Slides 46 – 50:  Joe Kittinger video and National Storytelling Week.
• Slides 51 – 55: Follow up activity in tutor time.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Download:

You can download the presentation below; please click this to say thank you.

• Download the PDF file here.
• If you would like a PowerPoint version of the file to adapt, visit TES.

This assembly hopefully offers every student some encouragement to be empowered and take control of their own learning. We hope you find it useful for students in your school.